Kelly Gilmour-Grassam's Posts

online dating blog

Online dating lets you sift through the tastes, hobbies, waistlines and selfie abilities of anyone that might interest you. It’s a platform charged with excitement – here’s an ocean of singletons looking for fun just like you.

The problem with online romance comes when a blossoming relationship feels the pressure to become ‘official’ on social media. This might even just be a friend request from an impending date eager to see more about you, but it’s far preferable to keep this off the cards until you’ve spent time getting to know each other. Read on to explore why social media can hurt a relationship before it’s even begun:

Information overload

People can be forgiven for accentuating their looks, hobbies and beliefs on a dating profile, but a social media account littered with them can be a big turn-off. Likewise, genuine interests like surfing or playing an instrument will seem passé if they are all you post about. Holding back the limits of your passion will make it appear all the more special once your date discovers it for themselves.

In the public eye

It’s fun to swap and share dating stories with your mates, providing the entire world doesn’t get an eye-full of you and your beau on a moonlit street. The distancing aspect of social media means people tend to comment on things that matter personally to you without a second’s thought for the harm it may cause. A cheeky jibe by a friend, for instance, can become a full-blown disaster if your date takes it the wrong way.

We all have bad photos

Chilled snap of you lounging on a hammock in Thailand = point scored with a potential match. Sloppy kebab face at five in the morning, mayo flecking your cheeks = complete no-no. We can’t control every side of ourselves, so keeping your embarrassing moments for people who really don’t care is a solid safeguard against singledom.

Suspicious minds

The beginning of a relationship can be fraught with anxiety and trust issues: is the person you’re falling for being serious or spurious with their feelings? It’ll be down to you to gauge what’s what, but we can deduce that casual photos with a friend or a stranger can have unintended consequences for someone looking at you through the social media lens.

The lay of the dating land does not permit fools lightly. Think about it – if you’re spending time crafting a great profile, specifically to meet people like you, then why should anyone ask for more? Social media, while it has a lot of benefits, threatens our ability to take things as they come; leaving some mystery for the both of you will do wonders for your conversation and your desire to unpick someone’s innermost spirit.

Since waiting is the hardest part, join FreeAndSingle today to make a splash on the dating scene!

Dating Food

Shakespeare reckoned that “if music be the food of love, play on”, and he had a point. But food itself can be a romantic trigger all by itself, and poetic chemistry can bubble up from enjoying certain cuisines together. There’s a reason why mealtime is the perfect territory for sussing out whether you like someone; our eating habits say a lot about us, and what we’d consider a suitable munch on the first date, like every other decision, hints towards our matchmaking potential.

So don’t be left with a bad taste in your mouth again – here are some inspiring food choices to help you and your date chew the fat that little bit easier . . .

The Pleasure Platter 

Big mountains of snacks, such as nachos piled high with cheese and chilli, are a winner for good conversation. Since you’ll be nibbling instead of noshing, you can flirt over who gets the last jalapeno. Tapas is the next logical step if you fancy splashing a bit more money – be warned, though, that this might leave you both hungry for something more than attention as you try to resist getting a hamburger afterwards.

Fishing for Complements

The basics of carnivorous eating – pork, beef, a thousand chicken concoctions – are just that – obvious and fairly limited in terms of taste. You know what you’re getting with a good steak, but if this is all you go for when schmoozing someone, it might reinforce the sense of routine that shouldn’t be anywhere near your dating life.

Fish is a generally underappreciated romantic meal, yet there are so many diverse flavours awaiting the brazen pescatarian that it should be a crime to ignore them. A seafood medley is never boring; the mouthfuls you’ll offer to your other half will be charged with a feeling of ‘what can it be?!’, whilst providing humour when you reach the inevitable bone.

That Je Nais Se Quoi

Onto aphrodisiacs: yes, we had to mention them. Why wouldn’t we? They’re nature’s way of giving you a pat on the back for good luck. Everyone knows about the lustful powers of strawberries, chocolate, and oysters with champagne, but there are actually a ton of tastes somewhat proven to get you hot under the collar for the perfect love-in.

Chili peppers are a surprising example, although you’d think blinking through spicy tears would be more of a distraction than anything. Desserts and coffee-based drinks containing cinnamon or ginger are another gift for the synapses, speeding up your blood flow.

Are you sitting uncomfortably? Good. We want you to rush out and try these food ideas on the next date you come across. There’s definite merit to be found in sharing creative and intimate culinary ideas. Trust us – they’ll be eating up your every word if your appetite for life is similarly fresh and exciting!

For a sweet bite of the dating pie, join FreeAndSingle now to meet singles in your local area.